Tuesday, September 26, 2017

HEATHER ANDERSON WINS SCRATCH AWARD AT BLAIRGOWRIE

139 Scottish Vets played over the Rosemount Course at Blairgowrie yesterday on what yet was another rather wet day. Local Blairgowrie member Heather Anderson was the only player to break 80. Her round of 78 was only 2 over the CSS of 76.

THIRD USA COLLEGE WIN FOR CONNIE JAFFREY

Kilwinning's Connie Jaffrey, winner of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Royal Aberdeen earlier this year, has won the third tournament of her US college career and led the Kansas State University women's golf team to its first team victory of the season in the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at the par-72, 6,235-yard Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan in the state of Kansas.

After setting the tournament record for the lowest individual round in tournament history with a six-under-par 66 in the opening round, the Scot, in her fourth and final year as a Kansas State University student, continued her dominance by returning two par scores of 72 to finish six strokes ahead of the field of 51 competitors at six-under par 210. Jaffrey's 54-hole aggregate was the second-lowest in Sunflower Invitational history and tied for third lowest in Kansas State University women's golf programme history.

"I'm really proud Connie and the rest of our girls," head coach Kristi Knight said. "They faced different conditions every day, but came out the first day and really made a statement. For Connie to shoot that score in these conditions, was really great. I'm extremely proud of her."

Kansas State team-mate Chloe Weir, a third-year student from Belfast, finished in third place at two-over par 218 (71-71-76), two shots behind the runner-up, Johanna Samuelson (Tulas) (73-72-71)

Another Kansas State student from this side of the Atlantic, freshman Niamh McSherry from Northern Ireland, finished 34th at 19-over 235.

Connie Jaffrey and her team-mates will be back in action from Oct. 1-3 when Kansas State travel to Starkville, Mississippi, to compete in the Mississippi State Magnolia Cup at Old Waverly Golf Club.

Jaffrey played for Great Britain and Ireland in the 2015 Astor Trophy tournament at Adelaide, Australia.

Monday, September 25, 2017

SCOTTISH GOLF STRATEGY -- SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Golf in Scotland requires a new direction to provide greater opportunity for investment and growth to support clubs and players at all levels. Recent years has seen ever decreasing resources being invested in golf in Scotland from membership affiliation income, commercial revenue and funding partners.

To achieve this change, we require a positive vote at our forthcoming Special General Meeting on 2 December at Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling.

The vote will include proposed national Affiliation changes and a review of Scottish Golf’s Articles of Association, which will allow the delivery of an innovative four-year strategy aimed at bringing much-needed investment to our game.

Each adult golf club member already makes a contribution to growing the game via the national affiliation fee, but the collective power of a small increase can make a huge difference to driving investment to our game. This investment will go towards supporting clubs, increasing participation and performance programmes, benefiting all stakeholders across the game.

To improve your understanding of how these changes can benefit Areas & Counties, Clubs and Club members, we have created a series of summary documents (located in the Scottish Golf document library) which we encourage you to read and share

As the Home of Golf, Scotland has always enjoyed a worldwide reputation for some of the best courses, players, coaches and clubs.

This is under threat due to the lack of investment in our clubs, infrastructure, programmes and members. Our new strategy addresses these concerns to allow golf in Scotland to capitalise on the significant scale and commercial value of its membership, club base and course appeal worldwide.

CRAIGMILLAR PARK WIN THE SCOTTISH JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Junior Convenors Susan Corrie, Mary Richardson and Ian Howarth, Past President of the SGU, with some of the winning team

The inaugural event was generously hosted by Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday the 24th August 2017, and General Manager/Secretary David Brodie, together with the rest of his Staff, made everyone welcome.
Despite persistent showers, the course held up very well under the conditions and play was completed with no delays.
The winning Teams from Junior Leagues all over Scotland, plus several Teams from areas currently without Junior Leagues, entered the event. Each Team had 6 Players and
there was some excellent scoring under the singles Stableford format, with the best 5 out of 6 scores to count.

A very strong Team from Craigmillar Park, recent winners of the Edinburgh Junior League, and all with single figure handicaps, emerged victorious with some very consistent scoring.
Sam Hall led the way with 38, followed by Cameron Ledingham with 36, by Alessio Margiotta and Mark Brooks both with 35, and by Conor O’Toole with 34. These 5 scores totalled 178 and were so good that the score by late substitute Lucy Morrison was able to be discarded.
This was a great Team performance!
The winning Team, together with their Junior Convenors Mary Richardson and Susan Corrie, were awarded a Trophy kindly donated by Ian Howarth, Past President of the SGU, and each player received a commemorative medal. The R&A kindly donated prizes of golf shirts, flags, and balls from the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and the leading 4 Teams all received prizes.

Mary Richardson said "This was a great tournament (and not just because we won!).
Great atmosphere and organisation. Superb to get juniors from all over the county together and be able to represent their clubs in a national event.:

"Good to promote team events - it teaches them so much. And the format was good, wth stableford allowing everyone to compete and also keep moving etc
Hope they get the support and sponsorship it deserves"
"Unfortunately as we were out first and had to wait around all day to find out we had won, three of our players had to leave. So the team photo does not have the trophy."

SHEENA WOOD WINS THE SCOTTISH VETS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME

Sheena Wood - 2017 Scottish Vets Champion

Jennifer Bryans and Sheena Wood

Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) has won the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association match-play championship over the Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie for a second time in three years.
She beat Jennifer Bryans (Turnhouse) by 4 and 3 in this afternoon's final. It was Jennifer who beat Sheena in last year's final when the Aberdeen player was defending the title she won in 2016.
Jennifer won the first with a birdie 4 but was soon brought back to square after three holes and Sheena gradually applied the pressure and was twp up at the turn.
Bryans had chances early in the second half but the soft conditions made it difficult to capitalise on them. Sheena sank a very long par putt on the 12th, when it looked like Jennifer's hole all the way, to go thre up, and the game finished on the 15th with Sheena winning 4 and 3.
Wood beat Tain's Mary Smith 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals while Bryans beat Margaret Locke (Dumfries and Galloway) 5 and 3.

SHEENA WOOD AND JENNIFER BRYANS MEET AGAIN IN FINAL OF SCOTTISH VETS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies and North) the 2015 Scottish Veteran Ladies' Golf Association match-play champion and losing finalist to Jennifer Bryans (Harburn and East ) in 2016 meet again in the final over Blairgowrie Lansdowne course this afternoon.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

SCOTTISH VETS SEMI-FINALISTS AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Monday morning's semi-finals in the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship over the Lansdownie course, Blairgowrie will feature Highland champion Mary Smith (Tain) versus Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), the Northern title-holder. at 9.05am, while at 9.15 it will be Margaret Locke, the Galloway champion, against Jennifer Bryans (Turnhouse), the East title-holder.

In Sunday's quarter-finals, Mary Smith was a 2 and 1 winner against the West champion, Liz Stewart (Greenburn), Sheena Wood also won by 2 and 1 against Fiona De Vries (St Rule), the Midlands champion, Margaret Locke won by 2 and 1 against Maureen McKerrow (Dumfries), and Jennifer Bryans beat Venetia Scott (Torwoodlee), the Borders champion, by 6 and t5.
The final will tee off at 1.30pm.

SCOTTISH VETS CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND RESULTS

Azahara Muñoz retains title on home soil

Azahara Muñoz

Celebration Jump

Local player Azahara Muñoz delighted the galleries as she retained her title at the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino at her home club Real Club de Golf Guadalmina in Spain on Sunday. The 29-year-old from the nearby village of San Pedro Alcantara, who had been winning tournaments at the club since the age of nine, carded rounds of 68-64-67 and 69 to finish two strokes clear of Carlota Ciganda and Lee-Anne Pace and win on a total of 19-under-par, with former Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez watching on.
She said afterwards: "I couldn't be any happier, defending my title on my home course and where I grew up. It's been an amazing week and all the fans were here supporting me, so I'm happy I did it for them. I've been playing so well all week and today I didn't play my best, especially on the back nine, but shooting an eight-under always helps. Today on the back nine, I made some amazing up and downs, so that was definitely the key."
Muñoz began the final round tied for the lead with Ciganda and bogeyed the third hole, but quickly gained the outright lead when Ciganda double bogeyed the fourth. The home favourite then made three straight birdies from the fifth to gain a four-stroke lead, before carding a second bogey at the 12th. She recovered a stroke at the long 14th, making a birdie putt of 30-feet and then made a final birdie on the par-5 17th.
The big move of the day came from the 2013 champion Pace, who eagled the last for a 67, before Ciganda also eagled the hole for a 71 and a share of second. Georgia Hall slipped back into fourth place after two bogeys early in the round but she recovered with an eagle on the seventh and a birdie on the eighth. Another pair of bogeys on the 12th and 14th were followed by four birdies in her last five holes for a round of 69.
Hall said: "I had quite a poor weekend really and didn't play that well, but fourth's fourth. I wanted to try and win this week really and I putted quite well but I was in between clubs here and there. My putting has been good this week apart from yesterday but my pitching has been my weakness, so I'll work on that for the next event."
The conditions were fantastic all week with blue skies, sunshine and a slight breath of wind, but nothing to trouble the players. At the begin of the week, Muñoz had promised to jump into the club's pool if she won and she duly delivered, bombing into the pool after the prize giving ceremony.
Another Spanish player, Natalia Escuriola Martinez, ended in fifth position, followed by Meghan MacLaren in sixth. Suzann Pettersen, who has just overcome a back injury, tied for seventh position with Justine Dreher, Nicole Garcia, Camilla Lennarth and rising star Frida Kinhult. Images will be available later this evening on flickr.com/ladieseuropeantour

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Ciganda and Muñoz ready lead on the Costa del Sol

Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz thrilled the Spanish galleries as they fired matching third rounds of 67 to share the lead heading into the final round of the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino at Club de Golf Guadalmina.

The former Solheim Cup partners started the day one stroke behind rising English star Georgia Hall, who was two strokes clear when she was unsettled by a double-bogey on the par-3 fifth hole, but they ended the day at 16-under-par and three strokes clear of Hall (71).

Although Hall was one clear after 10 holes, the Spanish duo rallied with five-under-par back nine totals, including three birdies to finish from Ciganda and an eagle on the last from Muñoz, the defending champion.

Ciganda said afterwards: "I started with a bogey on the first hole but I told myself to stay patient today. I know I can make birdies here, so just relax and try to hit fairways and greens. I had a birdie on nine and then I saw the tee was up on 12, so I made two good birdies on 11 and 12 and had three birdies to finish, so I'm very happy and excited for tomorrow. It's great because lots of people were watching and I really enjoy playing here in Spain with Aza and lots of friends, family and kids. I think it's really good for golf."

Both Ciganda and Muñoz benefited from the support of the large and vociferous galleries but Muñoz also has the added advantage of playing at her home club.

She said after her round: "It was really fun going back and forth making birdies with Carlota. Finishing with an eagle at the end definitely puts a smile on my face and dinner is going to taste much tastier."

Hall, who carded a 71, looked disappointed after letting several birdie putts slip past the hole, but she will remain in contention for her first win on Tour.

South African Lee-Anne Pace, the 2013 tournament champion, is a stroke further behind in fourth position, followed by Swedes Camilla Lennarth and Frida Kinhult and Natalia Escuriola Martinez in joint fifth.

Lennarth, who has just returned from injury, had a 66, which was the best round of the day, while Kinhult, who will turn 18 is two days' time, is the only amateur in the field.

The 17-year-old from Skaftö, which is a small island on the west coast of Sweden just north of Gothenburg, has played in three LET Access Series tournaments this year and was a member of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team last month. The younger sister of professional golfer Markus Kinhult, a member of the men's European Tour, she received an invitation to play in the tournament after winning the Spanish Amateur Ladies International Championship in March.

Meghan MacLaren, who won the Azores Ladies Open on the LET Access Series this year, sits in eighth position, while Olivia Cowan, Diana Luna and Ursula Wikstrom are tied for ninth.

Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe), the 13-year-old Scottish girls champion, and Nairn's Calum Scott, the Scottish U16 boys' title-holder, won the respective categories in today's (SAT) Scottish Junior Champion of Champions' one-round tournament over The Duke's Course, St Andrews.Hannah Darling's two-under-par 69 gave her a two-stroke victory from Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) with the joint third placed Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) and Evanna Hynd (Elmwood) finished four shots behind Jasmine on the 75 mark.
Darling, pictured with the Scottish girls U18 trophy, birdied the short second, long sixth and short eighth to be out in three-under-par 33 and she was still three under when she got her only bogey, a 4 at the short 16th in 36 home.
Mackintosh had three birdies (short third, 14th and short 16th)and three bogeys (fifth, seventh and 15th) in halves of 37 and 34. McClymont had a double bogey 6 at the 18th while Hynd had a double bogey 6 at the 17th.

Calum Scott shot a one-over-par 72 which included birdies at the first and seventh but a bogey at the second and a double bogey 5 at the short eighth.
He parred all the inward holes to hold on for a one-stroke win from joint runners-up Marc Watt (Inverallochy) and Greg Dalziel (Airdrie). Watt birdied the 17th and 18th for a 73 while Dalziel had a double bogey 6 at the long 11th.

Leicestershire ladies from Kibworth Golf Club win WPGA Lombard Trophy

Ladies European Tour player Kim Larratt and Trish Formoy, the school teacher who taught her the rudiments of French, had their rivals muttering the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of ‘zut alors’ during the WPGA Lombard Trophy’s final round.

The pair from Kibworth Golf Club in Leicestershire completed a wire-to-wire victory to become only the second winners of the women’s edition of Europe’s largest pro-am.
And they did so in fine style. Having established a two shot lead after their first negotiation of the Donald Steel-designed course at Pestana Vila Sol on Portugal’s Algarve, they doubled their advantage in the second and final round.
It all added up to a six-under-par score of 138 and a four shot victory over Nene Park pair, Suzanne Dickens and her amateur partner, Anne Curwen.
Not that Larratt, a PGA Assistant at Kibworth, and Formoy had things all their own way.
By the time the pairs completed the par three 13th, the three shot advantage the eventual winners boasted at the turn had been erased.

However, rather than be cowed by the threat from Dickens, the 2014 Women’s PGA Professional champion, and her amateur sidekick, Larratt and Formoy were inspired.
“We were comfortable at the turn,” Larratt explained. “Then Suzanne and Anne came out flying and we were level at one point. We needed to sort things out, which we did.
“Trish had a nett birdie at 14, I birdied the 15th and Trish had another nett birdie at 16. All of a sudden we were comfortable going down the last two holes.
“We got it going and kept it going, especially on the back nine. We were very solid after the 12th."
As well as winning the tournament, the experience gave Larratt the chance to reverse roles with Formoy.
“Trish taught me French,” she recalled. “Now it’s me trying to tell her what do on a golf course. Whenever she asked me what to do, I told her and she just did it. It was great.”
In addition to passing on her golfing knowledge Larratt is keen to encourage her peers and more female amateurs to get involved in the tournament.
“This is a fantastic tournament for both the professionals and the amateurs,” she said. “The qualifying tournament was great fun. Then coming here – why would you not play?
"We’ve been looked after superbly – we can’t thank Lombard and Coca Cola enough for including the ladies in this.”

Friday, September 22, 2017

Yorkshire win English counties’ crown in nailbiter

Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire 5-4 today to win the English Women's County Championship in a nailbiting finale which was only decided by the last putt on the last green.

Nicola Slater rolled her ball from behind the green to within six inches of the cup to confirm her 1up win and Yorkshire's victory - and the celebrations began as her team-mates bowled her over.

Olivia Winning cradled the trophy and remarked: "This is the only one I've ever wanted, I'd give up all my other wins for this." That's some statement from an international who has twice won the Scottish open title and helped England to European gold.

This was the second year in a row that the two teams had met in the title decider. Last season Gloucestershire came out on top, claiming their first win in the championship. This time it was Yorkshire's year and their 13th victory.

Going in to today's play Gloucestershire had a slight advantage, having won all four of their earlier matches this week. Yorkshire had scored three wins before being wrong-footed by Buckinghamshire yesterday and held to a half.

This morning, as the foursomes unfolded, the advantage stayed with Gloucestershire who went in to lunch 2-1 up – helped by a hole in one on the 12th from Caley McGinty.

As the singles got underway it was Gloucestershire again who forged ahead over the opening holes, but Yorkshire coach Steve Robinson was undismayed, remarking: "You've got to be able to take a punch."

He had told his team to be sure they didn't go home without giving it their all - and he was soon rewarded. Hannah Holden, who clearly remembered the disappointment of last year's defeat and was determined not to re-live it, scored the first point. She was five under par when she won 6/5, having birdied 4, 5, 7, 10 and 12.

Winning, who had been two down after six, holed a monster putt on the 8th, gathered a crop of birdies, knocked her wedge to 2ft on the 15th and won 4/3.

Then it was blow for blow. Gloucestershire's Alex Giles struck back with her 2/1 win, putting the two teams back on level terms. Almost immediately Megan Lockett also won 2/1 and put Yorkshire ahead again. Caley McGinty held on tight for Gloucestershire, defeating Mia Eales-Smith 2 up in a game which featured two players whose combined age was just 30!

The teams had four points apiece and everything hinged on the final game between Yorkshire's Nicola Slater and Gloucestershire's Alex Saunders. They were all square with three holes to play but crucially Slater won the par three 16th after Saunders' putt lipped out.

They halved the 17th in birdie and then, adrenalin pumping, both went through the back of the 18th in two. Saunders was further away but fashioned an exquisite chip to within six inches of the hole. Slater's downhill putt from the fringe was also perfectly judged and rolled equally close. "It was just thinking don't hit it long," she remarked afterwards.

Yorkshire captain Fran Dickson paid tribute to her players: "I just think they are amazing young people with great talent."

Gloucestershire's Andra Knight had similar words for her players. "It was a fabulous match, played in a great spirit. I am so proud of them all, they were brilliant."

In the day's other matches the hosts, Suffolk defeated Nottinghamshire 6-3 to take third place in the championship, on their first appearance at County Finals in 22 years. Captain Vanessa Bell commented: "I am thrilled to bits. After we lost on Monday but won on Tuesday I was after third place and we got it. I am just so proud of the team for fighting and keeping going, it's been fabulous."

Hampshire beat Buckinghamshire 5.5-3.5 for their second win of the week. It put them in fourth place, ahead of Nottinghamshire and Buckinghamshire.

Hall one clear of Ciganda and Muñoz in Spain

Georgia Hall

Georgia Hall fired a second round of 67 to take a one stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino.
At 12-under-par, she is one stroke ahead of Carlota Ciganda and home-town heroine Azahara Muñoz, who equalled the course record with a 64, only to be followed by another 64 from Supamas Sangchan of Thailand moments later.

In hot and sunny conditions at Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, Hall birdied the 11th, 13th and 17th on her first nine, adding further birdies at the fifth and seventh. She said afterwards: “I hit the ball better today, I just didn’t hit it close enough to the pin with my approach shots. It’s always good to have a bogey-free round and it got a bit windy on the back nine, so I’m happy with today’s score. The pins were not much harder, so you could attack them, but I putted well again today. Aza played great today. She holed some really good putts and shot eight-under.”
The defending champion, Muñoz, who is playing at her home club, said that her flawless 64 was her best ever round on the South Course.
She had two birdies on the back nine before firing another six on the front, including five in a row from the third to the seventh holes. She said: “I haven’t played many tournaments on the South Course, because most tournaments used to be played on the North, but I actually only remember an eight-under on the North Course, so it’s definitely my best round by far on the South. I kept being patient. I’ve been playing really well both days and yesterday I couldn’t make putts. I was hitting good putts but touching the edges. Today it was a combination of hitting it close and making some nice 15-footers. I’m feeling comfortable and playing well, but right now, I just want to enjoy the moment. Tomorrow is a new day.”

Ciganda joined her on 11-under after posting a 67, containing three birdies and an eagle on the long seventh. She said: “I didn’t really think about the scores too much out there. I was just trying to play my game and play the plan. I’m happy with my score: no bogeys, three birdies and one eagle. I’m happy with 11-under going into the weekend and excited about tomorrow. I think it’s going to be fun, playing with Aza here. I’m sure there will be lots of people here tomorrow: her whole town, family, everybody will be here. It’s really good that we have two Spanish people up there and Georgia is a great player. She has lots of confidence after The Solheim Cup so I’m happy for her and hopefully we can make more birdies tomorrow.”

Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa is a stroke further behind in fourth place after recovering from an early double-bogey on the 12th with seven birdies and a bogey in a round of 68. The 2013 tournament champion said: “I played really well today and yesterday. I started really badly and had a double on three, just from nowhere. I think I was still asleep. After that, I settled down and hit quite a few shots really close. I think the back nine has some par fives that are accessible but on the front nine I said to myself, let’s get to three-under, and I did it. There are some strong players here. It’s nice that everyone comes back to support the Tour and it will be a good weekend.”
Frenchwoman Valentine Derrey sits in fifth spot, while Ursula Wikstrom and LET rookie Meghan MacLaren are tied for sixth. Diana Luna and Natalia Escuriola Martinez, who held a share of the lead after the first round, both had rounds of 73 to share eighth place. Sangchan and Suzann Pettersen are part of a large group in a tie for 10th on five-under-par.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Spain's Macarena Campomanes Eguiguren shot a final round 73 to win the Ladies Senior British Open Amateur Championship at Royal Belfast Golf Club today.

The championship, which suffered a suspension of play due to heavy rain and flooding on Wednesday, got underway at 8am on Thursday with the cut reduced from the top 40 players and ties to the leading 25 players and ties progressing to the final round instead.

Finishing on five-over-par 218, she won by five shots from Australia's Sue Wooster with the defending champion, Laura Webb, in third place on 11-over-par after a closing round of 74.

Tied with Wooster at the start of the final round, Campomanes Eguiguren, who captained the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy on three occassions, made a fast start and never lost control.

A twisting 25-foot putt went down for a birdie at the long opening 1st and she holed from six feet for another gain at the 3rd.

The Spanish lawyer did drop a few shots in the damp underfoot conditions, but no one threatened to stop her from claiming the title for the first time. By the time Campomanes Eguiguren made her next birdie at the short 14th she had a comfortable five shot lead.

Her final two-over-par round was the joint best of the day - Gertie McMullen (The Island) also shot 73 in the final round and rose to finish tied for seventh place on the leaderboard.

Wooster started positively, chipping in for a birdie at the opening hole. But a double-bogey from the bunker at the 2nd followed by more trouble in sand at the 3rd and 4th saw her slip behind.

Winner of the Canadian Women's Senior Championship in August and on her way home from a golfing tour of America, she finished with a 78.

Webb, the winner at Caldy last year, put up a spirited defence. A member at East Berkshire, but originally from Northern Ireland, she returned a best of second round 74 to move into third place going into the final 18 holes.

Capomanes Eguiguren, who twice helped Spain win the World Championship, she now has another title to add to her list of achievements.

Now in the Senior ranks - finishing third at Royal Dornoch three years ago - she now has another title to add to her list of achievements.

The cut fell on 18-over-par and 26 players completed the 54-holes.

The 2018 Ladies Senior British Open Amateur Championship will be held at Crail in Scotland from 18 – 20 September.

Key Quotes

Macarena Campomanes Eguiguren (Spain)

"I am very, very pleased. When Sue chipped in at the first I thought I had an impossible putt, but I managed to hole it.

"After that I didn't really get nervous until I was coming down the final few holes. It is great to win the title." For all the results CLICK HERE

It means the title will be decided by tomorrow's clash between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. Gloucestershire, who have won all four of their games so far, hold a slight advantage in that a halved result will see them retain the trophy.

Today, Yorkshire and Buckinghamshire met with contrasting records behind them. Yorkshire had won all three of their earlier matches and, having conceded just two points from 27 games played, were top of the table.

Buckinghamshire had lost all their matches, were bottom of the table – and one of their players, Alice Kozlowski, revealed that they had decided to wear black kit today to show they were the underdogs and in mourning!

But there was nothing funereal about their golf. Instead they played with tremendous spirit, sharing both the foursomes and the singles.

In the morning Kozlowski and Georgina Bowers won for Bucks in a birdie-peppered game, while Megan Lockett and Mia Eales-Smith had a comfortable win for Yorkshire. In the decider Thalia Kirby (pictured top), playing with Victoria Bryan, raised cheers from the Bucks supporters when she holed a 12-footer on the last to set up the half.

In the singles both teams came out with great determination. Olivia Winning scored first for Yorkshire, but her point was quickly balanced by Kirby. Lockett earned her second point of the day for Yorkshire, but Bowers also did the double for Bucks.

Julia Gallagher made certain of the halved result for Buckinghamshire when she got up and down for par on the 16th and said: "It's unbelievable, incredible." Team captain Sue Ashworth added: "I am so proud of the girls, they are so positive and supportive."

But the match wasn't over. Buckinghamshire's Victoria Bryan tried to pull off the overall win with a fight back which saw her go up the 18th just 1 down. But Mia Eales-Smith, a remarkably composed 14-year-old, made a textbook par to win the game for Yorkshire and confirm the halved result.

Afterwards Yorkshire coach Steve Robinson was quick to compliment their opponents: "Hats off to Buckinghamshire," he said, while team captain Fran Dickson focussed on tomorrow's challenge. "This isn't a setback, we have still got to beat Gloucestershire, that's the bottom line," she said.

Gloucestershire looked set for a comfortable win after they claimed all three morning foursomes, but Nottinghamshire were determined to make them work for it. After six holes they were up in four of the six games and Emily Cheshire, Emma Howie and Rachel Boulton all went on win their games.

But Gloucestershire's Ffion Tynan, also 14, came back from two down after 15 to halve her game, Claudia Ovens worked steadily to her win and Grace Connelly (pictured right) took the team over the winning line. She got ahead in her match when she eagled the 2nd and birdied the 3rd and, although she was pulled back temporarily around the turn, she went on to win 3/2.

In the final match, the hosts, Suffolk, won their second match of the week against Hampshire. They also had a clean sweep in the foursomes and were also tested in the singles.

County champion Alice Barlow posted an early win for Suffolk, but three games went to Hampshire before team captain Vanessa Bell, playing last, got the necessary point. The final game was halved.

Suffolk are in third place and determined to hang on to it. "Yorkshire and Gloucestershire are seasoned national campaigners and they are always going to be difficult. But to finish third would be brilliant – third in the whole country!" she said.

CLARA AND INDIA DISAPPOINT IN TENNESSEE TOURNAMENT

Former Scottish women's amateur champion Clara Young (pictured left) a student at Missouri University, finished T52 in a field of 86 players at this week's Mercedes Benz Women's Collegiate tournament at Cherokee Country Club, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Over a par-71 course of 5,897yd, the North Berwick player had rounds of 73, 76 and 75 for a total of 224.England's India Clyburn (North Carolina State), a GB and I international team player, finished farther down the field with scores of 82, 73 and 74 for a total of 229 and a T71 position.

Winner by one shot was Emilia Migliaccio (Wake Forest) with scores of 67, 66 and 71 for a nine-under-par total of 204.

Hall, Luna and Escuriola Martinez share joint lead at Spanish Open

Natalia Escuriola Martinez

Diana Luna

Georgia Hall

England's Georgia Hall came home with five birdies and an eagle to fire a seven-under-par 65 and take the joint lead in the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino at Real Club de Golf Guadalmina on Thursday.

The Solheim Cup player had a lack lustre opening nine of level par, containing two birdies and two bogeys, but blitzed the back nine to share the lead with Natalia Escuriola Martinez of Spain and Italian Diana Luna.

"I don't even know what I was doing on the front nine, to be honest. My head was not there and my golf was not there at all. I did well to make the turn in level par, because I had some horrendous shots in there," said the 21-year-old from Wimborne, who tied for 10th place in last week's Evian Championship and is looking for her first win on Tour. "I pulled a couple on the first two or three holes about 15 yards left, which kind of got my head a bit frazzled. On the back nine I thought, right, I'm going to get five birdies here to get to five-under. Then I managed to have a good eagle on the last.

"On the par-5 18th, I hit driver and it makes it a bit easier when you only have 155 yards to the pin. I hit 6-iron to four or five feet and managed to hole it, so that definitely put me in a much better position."

Escuriola Martinez played steadily with eight birdies and one dropped shot during her round. The 23-year-old from Castellón won the Santander Tour's Spanish Championship at the Guadalmina course 14 months ago.

After signing for a 65, she said: "Today I felt really good and played easy shots, so I think that was the key.I felt relaxed today and I'm playing in Spain. I love this course because I won a tournament here last year."

Luna, a five-time winner on tour, had a flawless round with seven birdies. She said afterwards: "I'm very pleased. I had some very good up and downs towards the end of the round and I was getting a little bit tired, so my long game was going a bit downhill."

Suzann Pettersen, Carlota Ciganda and the 2013 tournament champion Lee-Anne Pace are one back in joint fourth place after rounds of 66.

Pettersen has recovered from the back injury which led to her withdrawing from The Solheim Cup last month. She said: "I feel pretty good and it's nice to be back. Last week was the first after a five-week break, so not the easiest of comebacks on a tough course. I played pain free last week and I feel great, so no hesitations and I can kind of do whatever I want, so I'm happy to be back.

"I'll take six-under any day, but I mean, it's perfect out here. I had a good group, played fast and you have to try and take advantage of some of the par fives out here. If you hit it good, you'll have some good looks and I rolled the ball pretty well."

Ciganda also stands at six-under and said: "My putting was good today and I made eight birdies, with four birdies on the par fives. I like the course and it's nice to play back in Europe. I have my family and friends here supporting and it's always nice to play in front of them.

"I was trying to hit fairways and greens and make a few putts. The par-5s are reachable, so if you have a good day with the putter you can make a lot of birdies. There are a few narrow holes where you have to be on the fairway, but today was good. The greens were rolling really well."

French duo Marion Ricordeau and Celine Herbin share seventh on five-under-par, with joint ninth place occupied by England's Gabriella Cowley, Valentine Derrey of France and Lydia Hall from Wales.

Catriona Matthew is appointed as the European Captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup

Catriona Matthew -- Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Scot chosen to lead Europe on home soil

“It’s a great honour and a dream come true to be the captain at home in Scotland”

Catriona Matthew has been appointed as European captain for the next Solheim Cup, which will take place on the world-famous PGA Centenary Course at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, on 13-15 September 2019.

Matthew made her ninth appearance as a player for the European team at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa last month, having served as a vice-captain to Annika Sörenstam.

Selected as the travelling alternate by the captain, she stepped into the player role after Suzann Pettersen withdrew through injury and the Scot proved to be one of the stars of the team, earning three points for Europe from her four matches.

With a career total of 22 Solheim Cup points, Matthew moved up to third on the all-time points list, behind Laura Davies (25) and Sörenstam (24). She also moved into joint third with Cristie Kerr on the all-time match victories list, with 18 career match wins, behind only Davies and Sörenstam with 22 apiece.

CATHKIN BRAES WIN THE 2017 WEST OF SCOTLAND GREENLEES TROPHY

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The final match of the 2017 Greenlees Trophy took place on Monday 18th September with Cathkin Braes requiring 6.5 points to over take Loudoun Gowf to win the title. They were playing the 2016 champions Milngavie in the deciding match. Cathkin won 7.5- 1.5 at home to clinch the title from Loudoun.Prestwick St Nicholas (Division 3 winners in 2016) were convincing winners of Division 2 and are promoted to Division 1 next year alongside Haggs Castle. In Division 3 Hilton Park have won despite the fact they still have a postponed match to be played on the 28th September.Greenlees Match Results2017 Greenlees TotalsThe lunch and presentation of trophies will take place at Old Ranfurly Golf Club on Wednesday 18th October

AIG Ladies Cups and Shields National FInals

The AIG Ladies Cups and Shields National Finals take place at Malone Golf Club from September 27th – 30th. Thirty teams from across the country are hopeful to experience the success and prestige associated with winning a National Pennant.

Malone is no stranger to hosting big events or to club success as they themselves have been represented at the National Finals on numerous occasions in the past, none more successful than their winning Senior Foursomes team in 2012. Lady Captain of Malone, Ann Brown, a long-time ILGU Official, is delighted to welcome the finalists to her club next week, "It is a great honour as Lady Captain to welcome all to the AIG Ladies Cups & Shields National Finals, Malone has hosted many notable tournaments during its 120 year history and we are extremely proud and honoured that we have been chosen to host this prestigious event in the first time it has been held in Ulster."

This is the 3rd year that AIG are title sponsors of the Ladies Cups and Shields and General Manager Declan O'Rourke is delighted to be involved, "When AIG extended its existing relationship with the ILGU in 2015 by announcing a four year sponsorship of the Ladies Cups and Shields it reinforced AIG's already existing commitment to supporting ladies amateur golf in Ireland. After a very successful finals at Dundalk last year, we look forward to another four days of exciting competition at the highest club level of golf at Malone."

Mountbellew may well head home with three National titles as their Intermediate Cup, Minor Cup and Challenge Cup teams claimed honours at the Connacht Finals, while Shandon Park and Lurgan both have two teams in action and will no doubt have home support as they chase victory across the Ballydrain and Drumbridge 9's at Malone.

Another two clubs that will be vying for double glory are Lucan, East Leinster Senior Foursomes Champions, and Cahir Park, Mid Leinster Intermediate Cup Champions, who will take part in not only the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals next week but also at the Revive Active Fourball Finals the following week at Royal Tara.

With players ranging in handicap from below scratch to 36 competing next week, the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields is the most diverse event on the ILGU calendar. As the excitement of the week unfolds, heartbreak is inevitable for most and National Pennants will come to a few but the event will undoubtedly create unforgettable memories for all who attend.